Like-for-like sales were up 1.9 per cent year-on-year with back-to-school and winter coats up, but shoppers were less keen on big ticket items like furniture, according to the British Retail Consortium/KPMG.

Over the three months to September, in-store non-food sales fell 1.5 per cent, while food sales rose 3.5 per cent.

"Retailers have worked hard to keep a lid on price rises following the depreciation of the pound, but with a potent mix of more expensive imports and increasing business costs from various government policies, something had to give at some point.

"Spending is still being focused towards essential purchases; with consumers buying their winter coats and back to school items, but shying away from big ticket items such as furniture and delaying the renewal of key household electrical goods."

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Shoppers were less keen on big items like furniture, according to the British Retail Consortium/KPMG